Birmingham vs Ipswich Town predictions, odds and betting tips

The new Championship campaign gets under way with two promotion contenders, as Birmingham City mark their return to the second tier with a home game against recently relegated Ipswich Town.

Both teams are aiming to go up this year, but only one of them will be able to get off to a winning start. Who, if either, will triumph?

Birmingham vs Ipswich Town best bets

• Birmingham City to win – 7/5 with SBK
• Both teams to score – 8/11 with Sky Bet
• Jay Stansfield to score any time – 15/8 with Betfred

Birmingham vs Ipswich Town odds

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Birmingham vs Ipswich Town predictions

There were two divisions separating these two teams in May, but now Birmingham City are ready to meet Ipswich Town on an equal footing.

Birmingham are delighted to be back in the Championship following their record-breaking promotion last time out, whereas Ipswich would rather still be in the Premier League.

Getting back there immediately is the target for the Tractor Boys in 2025/26. There is a good chance they will do just that; the bookies have them down as pre-season favourites for the title.

The financial gap between the Premier League and the Championship is larger than it has ever been, with parachute payments handing relegated clubs a clear advantage during their time back in the second tier.

Four teams – Burnley (2024/25), Leicester City (2023/24), Southampton (2023/24) and Burnley (2022/23) – have bounced back at the first time of asking in the last three seasons, and Ipswich will hope to follow suit. 

The fact they have managed to keep hold of Kieran McKenna is a major boost. The Northern Irishman was linked with a move away from Portman Road, and he will probably be prised away if Ipswich do not go up, but for now he remains at the helm of the club he has led with distinction since 2021.

Ipswich have also succeeded in retaining several of their key players. Liam Delap and Sam Morsy have moved on, but the likes of Omari Hutchinson, Leif Davis and Dara O’Shea are ready to start the season at Ipswich, whose fans now face a nervous wait until the end of the transfer window.

The Tractor Boys memorably won back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League, and Birmingham are looking to follow suit. They amassed a record 111 points in League One last term, sweeping all before them to storm back into the Championship.

The Blues have serious momentum behind them and they do not intend to merely make up the numbers in the second flight.

Birmingham had a Championship-quality squad even last season and they have since added it by bringing in Demarai Gray, Kyogo Furuhashi, Tommy Doyle and Bright Osayi-Samuel among others.

Birmingham will be keen to make a statement of intent on the opening night of the season, but Ipswich are probably the toughest possible opponents they could have got.

Birmingham vs Ipswich Town betting tips

Birmingham City and Ipswich Town will kick-start the Championship season on Friday evening.

Birmingham City to win

Ipswich deserve to be favourites for the Championship title given their experience at this level and the quality of their manager and squad.

However, they will be up against it on Friday night in front of a rocking St Andrew’s Crowd that could power Birmingham to victory.

There is a feelgood factor around the club right now and Chris Davies’s team do not fear anyone at this level.

Birmingham also have an excellent set of players at their disposal, and Davies knows how to get the best out of them.

The Blues should enjoy a triumphant return to the Championship this weekend.

Go for a Birmingham City win at 7/5 with SBK

Both teams to score

Delap’s departure always felt inevitable after his contributions last season, but it is a surprise that the aforementioned Hutchinson is still an Ipswich player.

The attacking midfielder impressed in the Premier League in 2024/25 despite his team’s inability to survive.

He will be key again this season, with Hutchinson likely to be central to Ipswich’s attacking plan on Friday and beyond.

The Tractor Boys should be able to find the back of the net, but halting this Birmingham frontline will be tricky.

After all, Davies’s charges scored in 42 out of 46 league games last campaign.

Tip both teams to score at 8/11 with Sky Bet

Jay Stansfield to score any time

Birmingham showed they meant business when they signed Jay Stansfield on a permanent deal last summer.

The former Fulham forward had spent the previous season at St Andrew’s, where he had done enough to earn a move to a top Championship club.

Instead, Stansfield dropped down to League One and played a significant role in getting Birmingham back to this level.

Stansfield scored 19 league goals in 2024/25 and he will be aiming to make it beyond 20 this term.

The 22-year-old can get started against Ipswich on matchday one.

Back Jay Stansfield to score any time at 15/8 with Betfred

How to watch Birmingham City vs Ipswich Town

• Location: St Andrew’s Stadium, Birmingham, England.
• Date and time: Friday 8th August, 8pm.
• How to watch: Sky Sports Football

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